8 hour(s)
English
Included
Visit the Perfume Pagoda, Vietnam’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site
Enjoy a scenic boat ride along the peaceful Yen Stream
Take a cable car to the breathtaking Huong Tich Cave
Explore Giai Oan Spring and Tuyet Son Pagoda surrounded by lush mountains
Experience local culture and enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch
€ 158.25
€ 145.59
Free cancellation and unlimited rescheduling leads to total flexibility while you plan your travels
Lowest Price Guarantee — no other provider offers this tour for less
Embark on a spiritual and scenic journey to the Perfume Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites, nestled in the heart of the Limestone Mountains. Departing from Hanoi, the tour begins with a picturesque 2-hour countryside drive followed by a serene 1.5-hour boat trip along the Yen Stream, surrounded by lush greenery and tranquil waters. Upon arrival, take a cable car ride to the legendary Huong Tich Cave, often referred to as the “Inner Temple,” where natural stalactites and stalagmites are believed to bring good fortune. The cave’s famous formations, such as the “golden tree” and “silver tree,” hold deep spiritual meaning for local worshippers and visitors alike.
After exploring the sacred cave, continue your journey to Giai Oan Spring and Tuyet Son Pagoda, both offering peaceful surroundings and historical insight into Vietnamese Buddhism. Along the way, enjoy a delicious traditional Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant, taking in the area’s calm and spiritual atmosphere. This full-day experience perfectly blends natural beauty, cultural heritage, and religious devotion, offering a meaningful escape from the bustle of Hanoi. Whether you seek reflection, adventure, or stunning landscapes, the Perfume Pagoda tour promises an unforgettable day of discovery and serenity.
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Ha Noi City Center
Transportation with air-conditioning
Entrance fees
Bottled drinking water
Boat, cable car, lunch
English speaking guide
Travel insurance
This tour will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Gratuities
Towels
Swimwear
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Comfortable Shoes
Comfortable Clothing
Camera
Water bottle
Not wheelchair accessible
No public transportation nearby
Infant seats unavailable
1 adult may accompany 1 child 2nd child pays adult rate
Have a camera ready to capture every special moment
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Type in your hotel/accommodation to see how far the attraction or departure point is.
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Huong Pagoda, set among the mountains and rivers about 60 kilometers from Hanoi, is one of the most famous spiritual sites in Vietnam. The journey itself is part of the experience—you take a boat ride along a peaceful river lined with limestone cliffs before reaching the pagoda complex. The main cave temple is impressive, with natural rock formations combined with sacred shrines, creating a unique atmosphere that feels both majestic and serene. During festival season, it can be very crowded, but outside of that time, the area is calm and offers beautiful scenery. If you’re looking for a mix of cultural exploration, spiritual atmosphere, and natural beauty, Huong Pagoda is worth the trip.
Perfume Pagoda is a complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built in the Hương Tich mountain. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Vietnam. I visted this place few years ago and have some notes below: - There is a bus from My Dinh bus station to Perfume Pagoda. The bus will stop at the main road and you can walk abt 2 km from bus stop to the tourist center of Perfume Pagoda that nearby the Ben Duc boat whaft. You buy ticket here and don't forget to get a leaflet to know abt attractions. - The only way to reach Perfume pagoda is by boat and on the way there, the boat will stop at some spots for tourists to have a look. The ticket price includes boat service, but you must share the boat with others and have to wait the boat full (5-6 people) to start the trip. If you want to rent an entire boat for yourself, ask the staff in ticket counter for the price. If you share the boat, you just can visit some main destinations on the tour, and if you don't know people who share the boat with you, it is quite inconvenient abt the time. But if you rent the entire boat, you can discuss with the boatman abt where you want to visit and you are not be rushed by others. - Thien Tru Pagoda and Huong Tich Cave (named "The Most Beautiful Cave Under the Southern Sky") are the 2 must-visit on this trip. From Perfume Pagoda to Huong Tich Cave, you can take a cable car or walk up the mountain. I recommend walking up because it is quite easy with the staircase, just abt 30-60 min and there are some spots you can visit on the way. If you take cable car, you will skip them. - If you can speak Vietnamese, you can chat with locals and hear some intertesting folktales abt the sacredness of this place. I personally, can felt it by myself, so be mindful of your words and your behavior here. Many couples struggling with infertility come here to pray for a child. - First 3 months of lunar year is pilgrimage season and Perfume Pagoda Festival is one of the Vietnam’s largest Buddhist celebration, so has many activities to enjoy. Though, if you are nt a pilgrim and don't like long crowds and long lines, you should avoid these months. The best time to visit is the fall (Aug -Oct), weather is great, not too crowded and can see a lot of blooming lotus, water lilies on the river. - If you want to visit some main attractions and explore the other surrounding temples, it will take a whole day, you should start your trip in the early morning.
A must do while you are in Hanoi! First you need to take a boat trip to the entrance of the temple. From there, a cable car is available to take you to the top of the mountain where the main temple is inside the cave. Words cannot explain the feeling you will have when you are up there. Definitely recommended unforgettable experience!
First night at Hanoi and we were recommended to visit this avenue. Great singers and rock band with cool vibes. It's located in the heart of a large hipster building complex, surrounded by multiple shops and hangout spots. Perfect for an evening out! Basic drinks and cocktails are on the menu.
Very interesting place to visit, unique history, set in a remote location, surrounded by beautiful vistas. To get to any of the 15 pagodas in this area you must travel by boat. The Huong Pagoda was 3km upriver and you must visit the local temple as part of the journey. It's a very tranquil way to start. The Pagoda itself is set up a short but steep walk up from the shore, and is maintained by a group of working monks. Unique to this Pagoda, is that is a monk dies here, they are given their own tomb on the grounds, and they're cast as a statue, and after 200 years the statue will be painted gold, as it is believed they have achieved enlightenment as a Buddha. The star attraction is the cave at the top of the nearby mountain, said to be the restimg place of a king's daughter. You can walk to the summit (3,400 steps) but unless you are very, very fit you'll want to take the cable car. There is still another 200 or so steps to the summit, before you decend into a very stunning and tranquil cave. Overall I'd say it's well worth the visit, however there are a few things to be aware of: 1) There is a festival here Jan-Mar, that attracts 2mil worshippers. The river is choked with boats, and it is shoulder to shoulder walking room. This in itself would be an experience. 2) The place is step up to sell to those visitors during the festival - everywhere the path is lined with makeshift shops and restaurants all the way to the summit. Outside of the festival time period the majority of these are closed, so you are walking past walls of tarps. 3) The heat - there is nowhere to hide from it. Especially on high humidity days. There are no air-conditioned buildings, just fans and refrigerated drinks. A number of our group suffered heat exhaustion, and there was little relief until we were back on the bus.
We had a great time on this tour with the help of our tour guide. It took the whole day but it was worth it.
We had a great tour and spent an excellent day. The tour is warmly recommended and everything very well organised. We have been just 4 people! Our guider was lovely and told us a lot about the history of the place and the life of Vietnamese people as well. Thank you so much.
